Yelp, for example, has an augmented reality app that allows users to point their camera down a street and read reviews of restaurants in the neighborhood.

Herbel said similar technology could be used to train workers about new menu items, she said.

Perkins has a printed binder with recipes, but those pages also have a Zapcode, or a code that can be read with the Zappar app, which makes the information come to life as a 3D image, rather than a one-dimensional photo. The technology is used more commonly in other countries, often for marketing.

“We’re late adopters,” Herbel said.

About three years ago, McDonald’s in Australia had a “Track My Maccas” campaign that let customers click an augmented reality code on their burger box to see the story of the item’s ingredients and where they came from.

They key to such tools is that they motivate participation and build loyalty, Herbel said.

“And people can start and stop on their own time and set the pace for their own learning,” she said.